Mining machine having a collapsible disintegrating head



C. F. BALL Dec. 19, 1961 MINING MACHINE HAVING A COLLAPSIBLE DISINTEGRATING HEAD ll Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 28, 1955 i :2 i g i CHARLES F. BALL BY ATTORNEY c. F. BALL v 3,013,783

MINING MACHINE HAVING A COLLAPSIBLE DISINTEGRATING HEAD Dec. 19, 1961 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 28, 1955 mvsmoa:

CHARLES E BALL BY A ME 5 ATTORNEY mu {5: m L L g C. F. BALL Dec. 19, 1961 MINING MACHINE HAVING A COLLAPSIBLE DISINTEGRATING HEAD ll Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed March 28, 1955 r L L Y A m M m n m s A E p l- R A H C M C. F. BALL Dec. 19, 1961 MINING MACHINE HAVING A COLLAPSIBLE DISINTEGRATING HEAD ll Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed March 28, 1955 ATTORNEY m T N E V N CHARLES F. BALL BY m wI c. F. BALL 3,013,783

MINING MACHINE HAVING A COLLAPSIBLE DISINTEGRATING HEAD Dec. 19, 1961 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed March 28, 1955 INVENTOR: CHARLES F. BALL MWr 1 I A w 5 u E a m a i N m ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1961 c. F. BALL 3,013,783

MINING MACHINE HAVING A COLLAFSIBLE DISINTEGRATING HEAD Original Filed March 28, 1955 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 mvsnroa:

CHARLES E BALL ATTORNEY I Dec. 19, 1961 c. F. BALL 3,0 3 MINING MACHINE HAVING A COLLAPSIBLE DISINTEGRATING HEAD 1 Original Filed March 28, 1955 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 'NVENTOR:

H6 /77 I79 I I BY F ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1961 c. F. BALL 3,013,733

MINING MACHINE HAVING A COLLAPSIBLE DISINTEGRATING HEAD Original Filed March 28, 1955 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 .1 FIG. 17. /74

:1 W h W 2'/ CHARLES F. BALL ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1961 c. F. BALL 3,013,783 MINING MACHINE HAVING A COLLAPSIBLE DISINTEGRATING HEAD Original Filed March 28, 1955 ll Sheets-Sheet l0 FIG. 20.

INVENTOR:

CHARLES F, BALL ATTORNEY c. F. BALL 3,013,783

MINING MACHINE HAVING A COLLAPSIBLE DISINTEGRATING HEAD Dec. 19, 1961 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Original Filed March 28, 1955 INVENTOR: CHARLES F. BALL ATTORNEY as mining progresses.

United States Patent 12 Claims. (Cl. 262-9) This invention relates to mining machines and more particularly to a longwall continuous miner, especially designed for use in the mining of minerals such as coal from the solid in accordance with the longwall method.

In longwall mining it is usually necessary to provide roof supports set as close to the face as possible. In mechanized longwall mining the mining machine or device operates in the relatively restricted space between the coal face and the nearest roof props and in a machine such as a continuous miner which operates on the butt of the face, a section of mineral is removed from the solid and the dislodged and disintegrated mineral is usually moved onto a conveyor and loaded out. Commonly such machines or devices are used in connection with snaking chain conveyors which, to facilitate repositioning thereof as the face of the mine vein is advanced, are also located between the faceand the nearest row of props and this arrangement results in a propfree front. Usually, the machine or mining device may be wholly or partially supported on the conveyor structure or may travel in adjacency to it. For a machine that cuts in either direction along the face, the conveyor may be advanced toward the new face as fast as the machine advances and roof props may be set as close to the conveyor as practical. If the machine operates only in one direction, it must be retracted along the face back to the point of starting so that it may be repositioned to start another cut prior to the repositioning of the conveyor and the setting of additional roof props.

Also, in mechanized longwall mining, with a machine of the frontal attack type operating on the butt, the section of mineral removed from the face is usually of suiticient cross sectional dimensions to admit the machine In a known type of machine, the disintegrating head mechanism must be moved in vertical planes to effect a cut of the necessary height and the disintegrating head mechanism is of a fixed width. Since such a machine usually must be retracted along the face back to its point of starting, it is impossible to set a row of roof props close to the face due to the space necessary to permit retraction of the machine between the face and the line of roof props.

The present invention contemplates improvements over known types of machines for mechanized longwall mining in that not only may a full frontal attack be made on the butt of the face but also, due to novel features of construction, timbering of the roof up to the new face may occur as rapidly as the machine advances and the props and roof bars may be maintained in position while the machine completes the face and retracts to the starting end to begin another cut. The same props and roof bars may remain in place as the succeeding cut progresses and additional roof props may be set close to the face in back of the machine as mining progresses.

The continuous mining machine of the present invention is of the full frontal attack type which operates on the butt of the face completely to remove a section of mineral of suflicient cross sectional area to admit the machine as the latter advances. In the present construction, the disintegrating mechanism completely dislodges and disintegrates the mineral with one operation without the necessity of adjusting movements of the head mechaice nism, with the head mechanism maintained at full width and height during the cutting, and the outside boundaries of the head mechanism may be reduced in cross section so that when the machine is retracted to a new starting position it may move freely within the restricted space between the rows of roof props without necessitating repositioning of the latter with the attendant dangers, particularly under a bad roof. The disintegrating head mechanism of the miner of, the present invention may not only be collapsed to permit retraction of the machine along the face but also may be readily expanded into its normal operating condition, and collapse and expansion of the head mechanism may be effected in a relatively simple and expeditious manner.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved mining machine or device Another object is to provide an improved continuous miner of the full frontalattack type, especially designed for use in accordance with the longwall method of mining. Yet another object is to provide an improved mine vein-attacking and dis integrating mechanism of the frontal-attack type adapted to operate along a longwall face with a prop-supported front to remove a section of mineral from the solid of such cross sectional dimension as to admit the machine as mining progresses. A further object is to provide an improved longwall mining machine having a disintegrating head mechanism which may be adjusted to reduce its outermost boundaries to decrease the size of the head mechanism to permit ready retraction of the machine. A still further object is to provide an improved longwall miner having a collapsible disintegrating head mechanism whereby the head mechanism may be collapsed for movement of the miner past the rows of roof props back toward the point of starting. Still another object is to provide an improved attacking and disintegrating mechanism embodying cooperating rotary boring heads for forming overlapping bores in the solid mineral and having associated therewith, loop cutter means for cutting the roof and side walls to enlarge the opening formed by the bores to provide a passageway inside the coal face of such cross .This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 496,962, filed March 28, 1955.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention,

from its apparatus aspect, may assume in practice and the manner of practicing the invention from its method aspect.

In these drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 1a, taken together, constitute a plan view of a longwall continuous miner constructed in accordance with a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 and 2a, taken together, constitute a side elevational view of the miner shown in FIGS. 1 and la.

FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal vertical section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front end elevational view of the miner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the head mechanism in expanded position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a detail horizontal section taken on line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are detail vertical sections taken on lines 7-7 and 88 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a cross section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal horizontal section taken on line 111-10 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a detail view showing one of the detached side frame portions of the hopper.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross section taken on line 1212 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a detail horizontal section taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a detail vertical section taken in the planes of line 14-14 of FIG. 12, showing details of the guiding means for the adjustable top cutter.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged detail horizontal section taken in the planes of line 15-15 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 16 is a detail section taken on line 16-16 of FIG. 18, showing a portion of the transmission gearing for the disintegrating head mechanism.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 17-17 of FIG. 1a.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 1818 of FIGS. la and 2a.

FIG. 19 is a somewhat diagrammatic view looking toward the front end of the head mechanism, with the latter in expanded position.

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 19, showing the head mechanism in collapsed position.

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic view showing the continuous miner operating at a longwall face in accordance with the improved method.

FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic view showing the miner in retracting position at the face, with the disintegrating head collapsed and with the machine moving rearwardly between the parallel rows of roof props.

The improved longwall continuous miner generally comprises a mobile base 1, desirably a crawler base adapted to travel over the floor of a mine, having tiltably mounted thereon, at 2, an elongated frame 3 which extends longitudinally forwardly and rearwardly of the base. as shown in FIGS. 2 and 2a. Carried at the front portion of the tiltable frame 3 is a mine vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism or so-called disintegrating head mechanism, generally designated 4. The attacking and disintegrating mechanism comprises a pair of cooperating rotary boring instruments or so-called boring heads 5 and 6 disposed on parallel longitudinal axes, an upper or top and side cutter 7 extending transversely of the frame rearwardly of the boring instruments, and side and bottom cutters 8 and 9 arranged in a transverse zone intermediate the transverse top cutter and the boring instruments. Conveying means, generally designated 10, is arranged longitudinally within the tiltable frame 3 and this conveying means comprises a front conveyor 11 extending longitudinally at the bottom of a hopper 12 and a cooperating rear conveyor 13. The conveyor 13 may discharge onto a conveyor 14 which may be of any suitable type.

A pair of coacting rotary breaker and impeller devices 15 are located within the hopper at the sides of the conveyor 11 with their axes aligned respectively with the axes of rotation of the boring instruments 5 and 6, and these devices serve to break up the mineral dislodged and moved rearwardly by the head mechanism and move the disintegrated mineral onto the conveying means. A motor 16 has its casing supporting the upper frame structure and in effect constituting a portion of the tiltable frame, and this motor is located above the base. The motor 16 drives the head mechanism 4, the conveying means and pressure generators or fluid pumps 17 and 18 of relatively different capacities which supply fluid, desirably'liquid, under pressure to the several fluid operated devices of the machine, as later described.

The crawler base 1 comprises a frame 19 in the form of a fabricated plate structure rigidly secured to side frames 20 about which endless crawler treads 21 are guided for orbital circulation. These crawler treads may be driven by pressure fluid motors which may be arranged within the tread frames and connected through gearings to the crawler treads in the manner fully disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 86,516, filed April 9, 194-9, now Patent No. 2,705,626. The variable capacity pump 17 may supply fluid under pressure to the tread driving motors under the control of conventional control valve means. Also, if desired, the crawler treads may be driven by hydraulic propelling means similar to that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 396,508, filed December 7, 1953, now Patent No. 2,771,958.

The pivotal mounting for the tiltable frame 3 on the base is provided by aligned pivot pins 22 secured to longitudinal vertical plates 23 of the base frame structure and parallel ears 24 secured to the base frame 19, and bear ing supports 25 rigidly secured to the motor casing at the opposite sides of the tiltable frame (FIG. 17) support bearing sleeves or bushings 26 surrounding and engaging the pivot pins 22. The pivots 2 are desirably located near the rearward portion of the base frame and mounted on the base frame at the forward portion thereof are extensible fluid jacks having cylinders 27 (see also FIG. 1) secured, at 28, to the front end of the base frame 19. These jack cylinders contain plungers 29 which engage suitable abutment surfaces at the sides of the tiltable frame. Thus, when fluid under pressure is supplied to the jack cylinders the tiltable frame 3 may be tilted about its pivot 2 to raise and lower the head mechanism 4 with respect to the floor level and by trapping fluid within these cylinders the tiltable frame may be held in adjusted position.

Now referring to the detail structure of the attacking and disintegrating head mechansm 4, it will be noted that sturdy drive shafts 30 extend longitudinally at opposite sides of the tiltable frame 3 and, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, these shafts extend centrally within elongated tubular housings or tubelike supports 31 integral with the tiltable frame and support bearings 32 and 33 in which the shafts are journaled. The shafts 30 project a substantial distance forwardly from the tubular supports 31 (FIG. 10) and keyed at 34 at their forward ends are hubs 35 of the rotary boring instruments 5 and 6 respectivcly.

The rotary boring instruments may assume various forms, but herein desirably each comprises, for illustrative purposes, diametrically opposite radial arms 36 and 37 integral with the hub, the latter arm desirably being shorter than the former, and these arms carrying forwardly projecting supports 38 having cutter bits or picks 39 thereon. Attached, as by screws 49, centrally of each boring head is a. breaker wedge 41 having a spiral or screwlike vane 42 on its exterior periphery and carrying a front cutter bit 43. The cutters on the arms of the boring instruments, upon rotation of the latter with the drive shafts, cut concentric annular kerfs in the solid mineral of a mine vein and the drill bit and wedge penetrate and break down the central core while the annular projection of mineral formed by the kerf cutters breaks away as a result of the cutting action during the boring operation.

The motor 16 is herein arranged with its axis extending centrally lengthwise of the tiltable frame and connected to the rear end of the motor shaft through a conventional slip clutch 44 (FIG. 16) is a coaxial shaft 45. The clutch 44 is arranged within a bellhousing 46 secured to the motor casing. Secured to and driven by the shaft 45 is a bevel pinion 47 (FIG. 18) at its opposite sides meshing with and driving bevel gears 48 secured to outwardly and downwardly inclined shafts 49 lying in a transverse vertical plane perpendicular to the motor axis. These shafts are suitably journaled within bearings supported within gear housings 50 secured to and supported by the bell-housings 46. Secured to the inclined shafts 49 are worms 51 meshing with and driving worm wheels 52 having their hubs suitably journaled within the gear housings 50. Splined within the hubs of the worm wheels are shafts 54 havingformed on their forward portions spur pinions 55 meshing with planet gears 56 mounted on shafts supported within rotatable planet carriers 57 likewise suitably journaled within bearings supported within the gear housing. The planet gears 56 mesh with relatively stationary internal gears 58 formed in the gear housings. The hubs of the planet carriers are keyed at 59 to the casings 60 of conventional universal couplings 61, the latter having inner sleeves 62 splined at 63 to the rear ends of horizontal shafts 64 respectively. The shafts 64 extend longitudinally along the sides of the tiltable frame 3 in substantial axial align ment with the shafts 30, in the manner shown. The front ends of the shafts 64 are connected by conventional universal couplings 65 to the rear ends of the shafts 30. From the foregoing it is evident that when the motor 16 is running, the rotary boring instruments 5 and 6 are rotated in relatively opposite directions through the bevel gearings 47, 48, the worm gearings 51, 52, the planetary reduction g'earings 55, 56, 58 and the shafts 64 and 30. As viewed in FIG. 4, the boring instrument 5revolves in a counter clockwise direction while the boring instrument 6 revolves in a clockwise direction.

The topand side cutter 7 operates at the roof level and comprises a guide frame 67 providing a guideway 68 in which an endless loop-type cutter chain 69 is guided for orbital circulation. This loop cutter chain has forwardly projecting lugs of its cutter links 70 arranged at the forward side of the chain guideway and these lugs carry forwardly projecting face-type cutter bits. 71. The side portions 72 of the guide frame are laterally adjustable herein desirably slidingly mounted on horizontal guides 73 extending transversely of the machine above the tiltable frame and these guides are carried by a rearward transversely extending frame 74 overlying the tiltable frame and mounted on a transverse bar 75 (FIGS. 3 and 12). The inner ends of the slidable side frames 72 abut, at 76, a detachable frame section 77 held in position by screws 78. The frame section 77, upon release of the screws, may be removed from the guide frame to permit the side frames 72 to slide inwardly toward one another to bring their inner ends in abutting engagement at the longitudinal vertical center of the machine, for a purpose to be later described. The cutter chain extends transversely across the upper horizontal portion of the guide frame 67, passes around the curved sides of the adjustable side frames 72 and then extends vertically downwardly and then inwardly. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the portions of the cutter chain at the left-hand sides of these figures extend downwardly and inwardly, at 79, around a chain sprocket 80 keyed, at 81, to the left-hand shaft 30. This sprocket is arranged coaxial with the hub of the boring instrument 5, as shown, and is driven by its coaxial shaft 30 in unison with the boring instrument 5. The chain extends around the lower portion of the sprocket 80 and passes upwardly over an idler sprocket 82 and then. laterally toward the righthand sides of FIGS. 4 and 9 around the inwardly curved lower portion of the right-hand side frame 72.

The guide frame 67 of the top cutter is adjustable in a vertical direction and has secured thereto upright guides 84 guided in the guideways of vertical guide members 85 on the sides of the hopper 12. The elevating means for the guide frame comprises extensible power jacks 86 (FIGS. 1 and 12) arranged at the outer sides of the tiltable frame. These jacks include fluid cylinders 87 pivotally mounted, at 88, at their lower ends on brackets 89 carried by the lower portion of the tiltable frame 3. Reciprocable in the. cylinders are pistons 90 having their piston rods 91 extending upwardly above the tiltable frame into pivotal connection, at 92, with reduced end portions 93 of the transverse horizontal bar 75. The bar 75 is rigidly keyed, at 94, to vertical guides 95 slidingly guided in vertical guideways 96 of guide members 97 on the tiltable frame (see also FIGS. 13 and 14 Thus, when fluid under pressure is properly supplied to the jack cylinders, the guide frame 67 of the upper cutter may be adjusted in a vertical direction relative to the machine frame to vary the operating height of the transverse upper portion of the loop cutter chain 69. By trapping fluid within the jack cylinders the cutter guide frame may be held in adjusted position. When different heights of adjustment of the upper cutter are desired, the guides may have guides of different lengths substituted therefor, and jacks having adjusting strokes of different lengths may be employed. The upper side portions of the frame 3 are vertically recessed or cut away at 98 to receive the transverse bar 75 when the cutter guide frame 67 is moved to lowered position.

Now referring to the side and bottom cutters 8 and 9,

it will be noted that arranged at opposite sides of the tiltable frame are guide frames 100 slidingly guided, at 101, along transverse guideways 102 formed on the bottom guideframe 103 (FIG. 5). The guide frames 100 provide guideways 104 for endless loop-type cutter chains 105. These cutter chains have cutter links 106 whose lugs pro- 'ject forwardly from the front, open sides of the guideways and. these lugs carry forwardly projecting face-type cut- 'ter bits 107. The cutter frames 100 have vertical side side and bottom cutter chains are circulated orbitally along the guideways of their guide frames.

In this improved construction, the horizontal frame portions 111 at their inner ends abut, at 112, an intermediate frame section 113 detachably secured in position by screws 114. The frames 100 may be adjusted laterally properly totension the loop chains and conventional shims 114 may be inserted between the inner ends of the'frame portions 111 and the ends of the frame section 113. When the frame section 113 is detached, upon removal of the screws 114, the guide frames 100 may he slid inwardly to bring the inner ends of their horizontal bars 111 into abutting contact at the longitudinal vertical center of the machine, for a purpose to be later described. The detachable frame section 113 has an inclined upper surface 115 (FIG. 3) providing a transverse bottom edge 116 to provide a front penetrating nose which serves, as the machine is advanced, to remove the upstanding point or cusp of mineral left on the floor by the rotary boring instruments between the latter. This nose-like portion also serves to direct the dislodged mineral upwardly and rearwardly within a space 117 (FIG. 3) disposed rearwardly of the side and bottom cutters 8 and 9 and into which the forward portion of the conveying means extends.

The hopper 12 has detachable side portions 119 which must be removed when the guide frames 100 of the side and bottom cutters are slid inwardly to decrease the lateral dimension of the head mechanism. These side portions 119 are held in position on the forward portion of the tiltable frame by screws 120 and at their forward'portions are provided with transverse horizontal recesses 121 (FIG. 5) receiving rectangular support portions '122 on the side guide frames 100 of the side and bottom cutters. Bolts 123 having heads received in transverse slots 124 serve to secure the side portions 119 to the cutter guide frames and when these bolts are loosened and the screws 120 are removed, the side portions of the hopper frame may be bodily detached laterally. One of the detached side frame portions 119 is shown in FIG. 11. The guides 85 are detachably secured to the side portions 119 of the hopper 7 and must be detached from the members 84 by loosening screws 125 prior to the removal of the hopper side portions.

During raising and lowering of the upper cutter 7 to change its operating height, the lower run of the loop cutter chain either tightens or slackens and after the proper height is determined the idler 82 may be positioned to place the chain under proper tension. To accomplish such positioning of the idler 82, an arm 126, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, has its annular hub mounted on a bearing 127 supported on a sleeve 128 surrounding and carried by the coaxial shaft 30. The idler 82 is journaled on the outer end portion of this arm on a shaft 129 parallel with the shaft 30. Detachably connected at 130 to the arm is a cable 131 which passes over an arcuate guide 132 on a segmental portion integral with the arm hub (FIG. 9) and this cable extends laterally around a guide sheave or pulley 133 journaled on a bearing bracket 134 attached to the adjacent side of the hopper frame. The cable extends rearwardly from this pulley (see also FIG. 2) and around a sheave or pulley 135 journaled on a bearing bracket 136 attached to the adjacent tubular shaft support 31. Mounted in the bracket 136 is a fluid cylinder 137 of an extensible fluid jack. This cylinder contains a reciprocable piston 138 having a rearwardly extending piston rod 139 on the rear end of which a bracket 140 for a pulley or sheave 141 is mounted. The cable 131 extends rearwardly from the pulley 135 around the pulley 141 and then forwardly from the latter into connection at 142 with a bracket attached to the adjacent shaft support 31. Thus, when fluid under pressure is properly supplied to the jack cylinder, the piston is moved rearwardly to cause the pulley 141 to deflect the intermediate portion of the cable engaged thereby, to swing the idler supporting arm 126 in transverse vertical planes about its pivotal mounting. Thus, by proper adjustment of the idler pulley 82, the upper loop cutter chain may be maintained under proper tension irrespective of the vertically adjusted position of the upper cutter and by trapping fluid in the jack cylinder, the idler may be held in adjusted position.

As shown in FIG. 17, driven by the front end of the motor shaft is a bevel pinion 142 at its opposite sides meshing with and driving bevel gears 143. These bevel gears are formed integral with relatively inclined outwardly and upwardly extending shafts 144 connected by universal joints 145 to shafts 146. The axes of the shafts 144 and 146 lie in a transverse vertical plane perpendicular to the motor axis. The right-hand shaft 146, as viewed in FIG. 17, drives through a universal joint 147 a shaft 148 suitably journaled within a gear housing 149 attached to the adjacent side of the tiltable frame. The shaft 148 drives a bevel pinion 150 meshing with a bevel gear 151 secured to longitudinal shafting 152 suitably journaled within the gear housing. The shafting 152 drives through conventional reduction gearing, contained in a housing 154 (FIG. 1a), and through a conventional slip clutch 155, a longitudinally extending shaft 156. The shaft 156 drives through a conventional universal joint 157 a telescopic shaft 158 which, in turn, drives through a conventional universal joint 159 a longitudinally extending shaft 160 suitably journaled within a housing 161. The shaft 160 drives through conventional reduction gearing contained in the housing 161 a transverse shaft 162 which carries drive sprockets 163 engaging and driving the parallel side chains 164 of the endless flight conveyor 13.

The shaft 146 at the left of FIG. 17 is connected through a conventional universal joint 166 to a shaft 167 suitably journaled within a gear housing 168 attached to front and rear conveyors 11 and 13, it will be noted that the front conveyor 11 may be similar to that disclosed in my Patent No. 2,693,268, dated November 2, 1954. The disintegrated mineral received in the space 117 is engaged by this front conveyor and is conveyed rearwardly along the bottom of the hopper 12 and a rear deflection plate 173 directs the mineral on the conveyor rearwardly toward the front receiving portion of the chain flight conveyor 13. The conveyor 13 conveys the disintegrated mineral rearwardly along a trough-like conveyor frame 174 extending rearwardly of the upper portion of the tiltable frame 3 and desirably forming a part of the latter (see also FIGS. 17 and 18). As shown in FlG. 15, the rear conveyor 13 drives the front conveyor 11 and the forward portions of the side chains 164 pass around sprockets 175 secured to a transverse shaft 176 suitably journaled within the conveyor side frames. Secured to and driven by the shaft 177 is a chain sprocket 178 which is connected by an endless drive chain 179 to a chain sprocket 180 secured to a transverse shaft 181, likewise suitably journaled within the conveyor side frame. Secured to the shaft 181 are chain sprockets 182 which engage and drive the chain of the front conveyor 11.

The rotary breaker and impeller devices 15 arranged in parallel side-by-side relation within the hopper 12 comprise sleevelike or tubular hubs 1 84 respectively surrounding the tubular supports 31 and journaled at their rearward ends in bearings 185 supported by the tubular shaft supports, as shown in FIG. 10. Formed integral with the tubular hubs 184 are spirally arranged spaced paddles or breaker plates or arms 186 which serve to break up any large lumps of mineral received in the hopper and move the disintegrated mineral rearwardly and inwardly toward the conveying means. The forward ends of the tubular hubs 184 of the breaker and impeller devices are supported by the shafts 30. The left-hand breaker and impeller device, as viewed in FIG. 9, is keyed at 187 to the sleeve 128 on which a swingable idler arm 126 is mounted, and this sleeve, in turn, is keyed at 188 to the coaxial shaft 30. The hub of the right-hand breaker or impeller device, as viewed in FIG. 9, is similarly mounted and is similarly keyed to its coaxial shaft. Thus, the breaker or impeller devices are driven by the shafts 30 in relatively opposite directions, the breaker or impeller devices rotating in unison with the rotary boring instruments 5 and 6 respectively.

A conventional valve box 190 for the several hydraulic cylinders (FIG. 1) is mounted on the adjacent tubular shaft support 31 at the opposite side of the machine frame from the extensible take-up jack cylinder 137 and when the machine is operating along an opposite face or in a reverse direction, the take-up jack together with its associated cable and pulley mechanism, the idler sprocket and its swingable arm, and the control box may be transposed. In other words, means is provided for mounting the control box and the take-up jack, the associated takeup mechanism, and other parts, at either side of the machine.

In FIGS. 4 and 9, the disintegrating head mechanism 4 of the miner is shown in extended or expanded operating position and when it is desired to collapse the head mechanism to the position shown in FIG. 20, this may be accomplished by removing the side portions 119 of the hopper 12, by lowering the top cutter 7, removing the frame sections 77 and 113, and sliding the side portions of the cutter guide frames inwardly. When the side portions of the hopper frame are detached, the cable 131 must be detached from the take-up arm 126 since the guide pulley 133 is carried by one of the side frame portions 119. One of the detached side frame portions 119 is shown in FIG. 11. When the head mechanism is collapsed, the lower run of the upper loop cutter chain merely hangs down loosely in loops, as shown in FIG. 20.

Fluid under pressure may be supplied to the cylinders of the fluid jacks 27 and 86 and to the cylinders 137 of 7 .wall miner is as follows:

the take-up jack from the pump 18 under the control of the control valve box 190.

The general mode of operation of the improved long- When the head mechanism 4 is in collapsed position, as shown in FIG. 20, and the frame 3 is held tilted upwardly by the fluid jacks 27 with the head mechanism above the floor level, the crawler treads 21 may be driven to effect tramming of the machine about the mine, and when the working face is reached the head mechanism may be expanded to its operative position shown in FIG. 4. The tilting jacks 27 may then be operated to tilt the frame about its pivot 2 relative to the base to bring the nose of the head mechanism down to the floor level, and these tilting jacks may also be operated to tilt the frame to enable the head mechanism to follow an uneven floor or rolling bottom during the mining operation. When the head mechanism is properly positioned at the working face, the crawler treads may be operated to propel the machine forwardly at a relatively slow speed to feed the boring instruments 5 and 6 and loop cutters 7, 8 and9 into the mineral of the solid mine vein. As the mineral is bored out and cut and dis-lodged from the face, it may be moved rearwardly of the cutters and boring instruments into the space 117 and rearwardly into the hopper 12. The dislodged material within the hopper is engaged by the blades of the rotary breaker and impeller devices 15 which break up any unduly large lumps of material and move the disintegrated mineral rearwardly and inwardly within the hopper toward the front conveyor 11 at the bottom of the hopper. The front conveyor 11 discharges the mineral thereon rearwardly onto the rear elevating conveyor 13 which, in turn, discharges onto the conveyor 14.

The boring instruments 5 and 6, as the machine is advanced, cut out parallel overlapping bores in the solid mineral, and the loop cutters 7, 8 and 9 enlarge the opening provided by the bores to form a passage of sufficient cross sectional area to receive the machine as mining progresses. As the miner advances toward the work, roof props P supporting roof bars RB may be set up as close as possible to the rear end of the machine with a row of props extending close to the advance face and with a parallel row of props spaced outwardly from the advance face in the manner shown in FIG. 21, so that the roof is adequately supported at the face, and as the machine advances the rear discharge conveyor 14 moves forwardly 'with the machine in the space between the parallel rows of roof props.

As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 21, the conveyor 14 may assume various forms and herein, for illustrative purposes, comprises an extensible belt 191 which may pass around an angle-turn roller device 192, such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,222,019, so that the outward portion of the belt conveyor may extend in the righthand end gate or roadway R at substantially right angles to the forward portion of the belt. The outward portion of the belt may be extensible and may discharge onto, or may be associated with, an extensible belt conveyor mechanism. In FIG. 21, the working face is designated F, the advance face is designated AF, the advance end or butt of the face is designated B, and a stable 5 is provided at the right-hand end of the face for receiving the miner as it is moved back to a new cutting position in a well-known manner. The roof pack or gob is designated G. In FIG. 2a, the endless belt 191 is shown passing around an idler pulley or roller 193 journaled on a horizontally swingable frame 194 pivoted at 195 to swing about a vertical axis relative to the frame 3 of the machine. Carried at the rearward portion of the swingable frame 194 are upright side rollers 196 (FIG. la) located at the opposite sides of the lower run of the belt. Horizontal rollers 197 and 198 are arranged forwardly and rearwardly of the vertical side rollers 196, as shown. Engagement of the side rollers with the side edges of the belt causes the pulley frame 194 to swing with the belt as the angular relation of the machine with respect to the belt varies. The belt underlies the rearward discharge portion of the conveyor 13 and the swivel mounting for the front belt pulley enables the rearward portion of the miner to shift horizontally during the mining operation without interfering with the discharge of the con-' veyor 13 onto the conveyor belt. When the miner reaches the left-hand gate or roadway R, completing the cut along the face, the belt 191 may be detached from the rear end of the machine and is moved back into the righthand gate or roadway and during such withdrawal of the conveyor the head mechanism may be collapsed to the position shown in FIG. 20, to reduce the outer boundaries of the head mechanism so that the miner may be retracted along the face through the relatively restricted space between the parallel rows of roof props, as shown in FIG. 22. When the miner is in retracted position, it may be moved into the stable S and then positioned at the new butt of the face ready to start another cut. The miner is repeatedly advanced along the face and retracted during the mining operation and during the cuts across the face, the end gates are advanced and new stables are progressively provided for the new cuts, all in a wellknown manner.

While the continuous miner of the present invention is shown to be of the longwall butt type especially designed for longwall operation, it is evident that it may be used in other manners in accordance with other methods. For example, the machine might be used, with certain modifications, as an entry driver or heading machine, under circumstances where for any reason it is desired to collapse the head during retraction of the machine.

As a result of this invention, an improved continuous miner of the longwall type is provided, especially designed for use in the mining of coal or similar minerals in accordance with the longwall method, whereby the mining operation may be effected in a more efiicient and safe manner. By the provision of the collapsible head mechanism, roof props may be located in parallel rows close to the face with the conveyor system advancing withthe machine within the space between the rows of roof props and the miner, when the head is collapsed, may be retracted along the face in the space between the rows of roof props back to the point of starting. The improved relation of the rotary boring instruments and the loop cutters results in a disintegrating head mechanism which is not only relatively efiicient in operation but which is also comparatively simple and rugged in design. The novel arrangement of the drive shafts for the boring instruments and loop cutters and the novel mountings therefor provide an extremely rigid and durable structure, well adapted to withstand the severe conditions of service. The machine is not only relatively compact, but is also well balanced and readily adjustable and maneuverable. may operate in accordance with the novel method while providing improved and safer supporting of the roof at the face. These and other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described one form which the invention, from its apparatus aspect, may assume in practice, and one mode of practice of the invention, from its method aspect, it will be understood that this form and method are disclosed'for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms and practiced in various other ways without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A mining machine comprising, a movable support having longitudinally extending drive means, a top loop cutter driven through an orbital path by said drive means, a bottom loop cutter located below the upper portion of said top loop cutter and driven through an orbital Also, due to the collapsible head, the machine path by said drive means, said bottom loop cutter being spaced longitudinally of said top loop cutter with respect to said drive means and having an orbital path of movement which overlaps the orbital path of movement of said top loop cutter so as to be adapted with said top loop cutter to cut at least the top and side of a passageway through which said support can pass, and said loop cutters having portions laterally retractable towards the longitudinal axis of said drive means to reduce the height and width of the machine during maneuvering.

2. A mining machine comprising, a movable support having longitudinally extending drive means, a top loop cutter driven through an orbital path by said drive means, a bottom loop cutter located below the upper portion of said top loop cutter and driven through an orbital path by said drive means, said bottom loop cutter being spaced longitudinally of said top loop cutter with respect to said drive means and having an orbital path of movement which overlaps the orbital path of movement of said top loop cutter so as to be adapted with said top loop cutter to cut at least the top and side of a passageway through which said support can pass, said loop cutters having portions laterally retractable towards the longitudinal axis of said drive means to reduce the height and width of the machine during maneuvering, and boring means driven by said drive means and located forwardly of said loop cutters having a path of movement within said orbital paths.

3. A mining machine comprising, a movable support having longitudinally extending drive means, a top loop cutter driven through an orbital path by said drive means, a pair of bottom loop cutters located below the upper portion of said top loop cutter and driven through orbital paths by said drive means, said bottom loop cutters being spaced longitudinally of said top loop cutter with respect to said drive means and having orbital paths of movement which overlap the orbital path of movement of said top loop cutter so as to be adapted with said top loop cutter to cut at least the top and sides of a passage way through which said support can pass, and said loop cutters having portions laterally retractable towards the longitudinal axis of said drive means to reduce the height and width of the machine during maneuvering.

4. A mining machine comprising, a movable support having a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced drive shafts, a top loop cutter driven through an orbital path by one of said shafts, a pair of bottom loop cutters located below the upper portion of said top loop cutter and driven through orbital paths by said shafts, respectivcly, said bottom loop cutters being located forwardly of said top loop cutter and having orbital paths of movement which overlap the orbital path of movement of said top loop cutter so as to be adapted with said top loop cutter to cut at least the top and sides of a passageway through which said support can pass, and said loop cutters having portions laterally retractable towards the longitudinal axis of said drive shafts to reduce the height and width of the machine during maneuvering.

5. In a mining apparatus, a base movable over the floor of a mine, a rotary boring head mounted on said base for forming a bore of circular cross section in the mineral of a solid mine vein, trimming cutting means disposed at the side of said base in vertical planes parallel to a vertical line tangential to the peripheral orbit of sa d boring head, said cutting means including sidewall forming portions connected to means for adiusting said cutting means laterally into different parallel positions rela ive to said boring head including an outer position a distance outside said vertical tangential line and an inward collapsed position a distance inside said vertical tan ential line within the proiection of the peripheral orbit of said boring head. said side wall forming p rtions of said cutting means having coo eratin uidewavs which pe m t said cutting means to form the entire side wa l of such a bore, means for driving said boring head. and

12 means for feeding said boring head and said trimming cutting means toward the work during the boring and trimming operation.

6. A mining apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein a pa.r of rotary boring heads are provided for forming parallel overlapping bores in the mineral, and vertical sidewall forming portions of said trimming cutting means and located at both sides of said base and disposed parallel to vertical tangential lines at the outer sides of the peripheral orbits of said boring heads and are each adjustable laterally outwardly beyond said vertical tangential lines.

7, A mining machine comprising a support movable over a floor of a mine, a collapsible disintegrating head mechanism carried at the front end of said support being collapsible to reduce the lateral dimensions of said disintegrating head mechanism during retraction of the latter, said head mechanism comprising horizontal top cutt'ng means and vertical side cutting means, the latter having overlapping straight vertical portions for forming a full plane sidewall of a passageway in a mine vein, and means for collapsing said head mechanism to reduce the lateral and vertical extents of said cutting means, said top and side cutting means comprising endless cutter chains having guiding means providing continuous and uninterrupted transverse and vertical guideways for guiding said cutting chains when said head mechanism is in its expanded operating position, said head mechanism also including horizontal rotary boring cutters for forming parallel bores in the solid mineral in advance of said top and side cutting means and the latter disposed within the projection of the orbits of said boring cutters when said horizontal and side cutting means are collapsed laterally inwardly, said side and top cutting means when sa'd top cutter is expanded extending along lines disposed substantial distances beyond the sides and tops of the bores formed by said boring cutters.

8. A mining machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for collapsing said head mechanism comprises horizontal guiding means on said support along which side cutter frames of said vertical side portions are guided, and a detachable horizontal strut member as'ociated with said guiding means and having cutter guid'ng means cooperating therewith, said detachable horizontal strut member insertible between said side cutter frames for holding said frames apart while providing an intervening horizontal chain guideway, said detachable member being removable to permit inward guided movement of said side frames toward one another.

9. A mining machine comprising a support movable over the floor of a mine, and a collapsible disintegrating head mechanism carried at the front end of said support and collapsible to reduce the lateral dimens ons of the machine of the latter, said head mechanism compr'sing top trimming cutter means and bottom trimming cutter means, said top and bottom cutter means having horizontal top and bottom portions for forming the p ane floor and roof of a mine passageway, said top and bottom cu ter means also having straight overlapping vertical sde cutting portions each adapted to form a full plane vertical side of a mine passageway, and means for collapsing said head mechanism to reduce the latoral and vertical extents of said top and side cutting means whi e the same remain carried by said support, said top and side cu ting means comprising endless cutting chains having horizontal and vertical uide means prov ding continuous guideways for the eff ct ve horizontal and vertical cuttin portions of said chains when the head mechanism is in its expanded operating positon. said head mechanism also including horizontal rotary bor ng cutters for forming parallel horizont l bores in the sol d mineral in adv nce of said top and bottom cutting means, said top and side portions of said cu ter chans lvine substantial distances outside the bores formed by said boring cutters when the head mechanism is expanded and extending along lines lying inside the bores when the head mechanism is collapsed.

10. In a mining machine, a collapsible mineral disin tegrating mechanism operable when expanded to dislodge and disintegrate the mineral of a solid mine vein to form a passageway therein in which the machine may travel as mining progresses, said disintegrating mechanism comprising rotary boring cutters for forming parallel bores in the mine vein, endless chain cutter means which when the mechanism is partially expanded effects cutting of the roof, inner sidewall and floor of the passageway along horizontal and vertical lines tangent to the outer peripheral orbits of said boring cutters, said sidewall and roof cutter means having horizontal and vertical portions also being movable for disintegrating such mineral outwardly beyond said tangential lines, and means for effecting collapse of said disintegrating mechanism to bring said sidewall and roof forming portions of said cutter means entirely inside of said horizontal and vertical tangential lines to reduce the lateral dimensions of the machine during maneuvering thereof.

11. A mining apparatus comprising, a main frame having a longitudinally extending axis, mineral dislodging means mounted on said main frame, a portion of said dislodging means comprising spaced circulating flexible devices mounted on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis and having at least portions thereof, respectively, bodily movable in a plane toward and away from said axis for cutting a portion of the side and bottom of a passageway into a mineral vein, another portion of said dislodging means comprising a circulating flexible device spaced longitudinally of and at least in part laterally above said first mentioned portion which another portion is bodily movable toward and away from said axis for cutting the top and the remaining portion of the side of such passageway into such mineral vein.

12. A mining apparatus comprising, a main frame having a longitudinally extending axis, mineral dislodging means mounted on said main frame, a portion of said dislodging means comprising circulating flexible devices mounted on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis and having at least portions thereof, respectively, bodily movable in a plane toward and away from said axis for cutting a portion of the side and bottom of a passageway into a mineral vein, another portion of said dislodging means comprising a circulating flexible device mounted above said axis longitudinally rearwardly of said devices and having at least a portion thereof bodily movable toward and away from said axis for cutting the top and the remaining portion of the side of such passageway into such mineral vein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,726,963 McKinlay Sept. 3, 1929 2,189,670 Lewis Feb. 6, 1940 2,479,132 Peale et al. Aug. 16, 1949 2,705,625 Robbins Apr. 5, 1955 2,715,527 Cartlidge et al. Aug. 16, 1955 2,743,093 Robbins Apr. 24-, 1956 2,745,649 Robbins May 15, 1956 2,777,681 Ball Jan. 15, 1957 2,783,037 Cartlidge Feb. 26, 1957 2,801,836 Risse Aug. 6, 1957 2,910,283 Joy Oct. 27, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 631,099 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1949 

